Vehicular Road Surface Drawing Device

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-108374 filed on Jul. 4, 2024. The disclosure of the above-identified application, including the specification, drawings, and claims, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to a vehicular road surface drawing device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-079907 (JP 2021-079907 A) discloses a vehicular road surface drawing device that projects an optical image on a road surface on which a vehicle is traveling, for notifying people in the vicinity of the vehicle regarding a traveling direction of the vehicle.

The optical image that is projected on the road surface in JP 2021-079907 A may enter a field of view of a driver of the vehicle, depending on a projection position thereof. In this case, the driver may feel the optical image to be irksome, and drivability may deteriorate for the driver.

In view of the foregoing circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicular road surface drawing device that is capable of projecting an optical image onto a road surface so as not to readily enter a field of view of a driver.

A vehicular road surface drawing device according to a first aspect includes a projection device that is provided in a vehicle including a driver's seat that is configured to adjust a height with respect to a floor face, and that projects an optical image on a road surface on which the vehicle is traveling so as to be situated in front of the vehicle in a traveling direction of the vehicle, and a control unit that controls the projection device such that, when the height of the driver's seat with respect to the floor face is no smaller than a first threshold value, a distance in the traveling direction between an end portion of the optical image on a traveling direction side and the vehicle becomes shorter than when the height is smaller than the first threshold value.

The vehicular road surface drawing device according to the first aspect includes the projection device that is provided in the vehicle having the driver's seat that is capable of adjusting the height thereof with respect to the floor face, and projects the optical image on the road surface on which the vehicle is traveling so as to be situated in front of the vehicle in the traveling direction of the vehicle. Further, the vehicular road surface drawing device of the first aspect includes the control unit that controls the projection device such that, when the height of the driver's seat with respect to the floor face is no smaller than the first threshold value, the distance in the traveling direction between the end portion of the optical image on the traveling direction side and the vehicle is shorter than when the height is smaller than the first threshold value. Accordingly, when the height of the driver's seat with respect to the floor face is no smaller than the first threshold value, the optical image projected on the road surface does not readily enter the field of view of the driver, as compared with a case in which the distance in the traveling direction between the end portion of the optical image on the traveling direction side and the vehicle is constant, regardless of the height of the driver's seat with respect to the floor face.

With the vehicular road surface drawing device according to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the control unit controls the projection device such that a dimension of the optical image in the traveling direction when the height of the driver's seat is no smaller than the first threshold is shorter than a dimension when the height is smaller than the first threshold value.

In the second aspect, the dimension of the optical image in the traveling direction when the height of the driver's seat is no smaller than the first threshold value is shorter as compared to the dimension when the height is smaller than the first threshold value. Accordingly, when the height of the driver's seat with respect to the floor face is no smaller than the first threshold value, the optical image that is projected on the road surface does not readily enter the field of view of the driver.

With the vehicular road surface drawing device according to a third aspect, in the second aspect, a shape of the optical image, when the height of the driver's seat is no smaller than the first threshold value, is a shape in which the entire optical image, when the height is smaller than the first threshold value, is reduced in the traveling direction.

In the third aspect, the shape of the optical image when the height of the driver's seat is no smaller than the first threshold value is a shape obtained by reducing the entire optical image in the traveling direction when the height of the driver's seat is smaller than the first threshold value. Accordingly, the shape of the optical image when the height of the driver's seat is no smaller than the first threshold value and the shape of the optical image when the height is smaller than the first threshold value can be made to be the same, except for the dimensions thereof.

With the vehicular road surface drawing device according to a fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the vehicular road surface drawing device includes an angle adjustment device for adjusting an angle of the projection device with respect to a horizontal direction in a side view of the vehicle.

In the vehicular road surface drawing device of the fourth aspect, the shape of the optical image when the height of the driver's seat is no smaller than the first threshold value can be a shape obtained by reducing the entire optical image in the traveling direction when the height of the driver's seat is smaller than the first threshold value. Further, adjusting the angle of the projection device enables the dimensions of the entire optical image to be changed.

With the vehicular road surface drawing device according to a fifth aspect, in the second aspect, a shape of the optical image when the height of the driver's seat is no smaller than the first threshold value is a shape in which part of the optical image, when the height is smaller than the first threshold value, is omitted.

According to the fifth aspect, for the optical image that is projected on the road surface can be kept from readily entering the field of view of the driver, while simplifying a configuration of the vehicular road surface drawing device.

As described above, the vehicular road surface drawing device according to the present disclosure has an excellent effect that the optical image can be projected onto the road surface so as not to readily enter the field of view of the driver.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicular road surface drawing device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the arrows UP, the arrow FR, and the arrow LH in the drawings respectively indicate the upper side in the vehicle up-down direction, the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the left side in the vehicle widthwise direction. In the case where the description is made using the front, rear, left, right, and up and down directions, the front and back directions in the vehicle front-rear direction, the left and right directions in the vehicle width direction, and the up and down directions in the vehicle vertical direction are shown unless otherwise specified.

1 FIG. 4 FIG. 1 FIG. 8 FIG. 16 14 12 10 66 66 16 17 10 14 15 16 12 14 16 12 1 16 12 2 2 1 As shown in, a driver's seatis provided via an electric lifter deviceon a floor faceconstituting a bottom surface of a vehicle cabin of a vehicleto which a vehicular road surface drawing device(hereinafter, referred to as a drawing device) according to the present embodiment is applied. That is, the driver's seatis positioned immediately behind the steering wheelprovided in an instrument panel (not shown) of the vehicle. The lifter deviceis operated by the action of the first electric motor(see). The driver's seatis raised and lowered with respect to the floor faceby the action of the lifter device. The height of the driver's seat(the lower surface of the seat portion) shown infrom the floor faceis H. The height of the driver's seat(seat portion) shown infrom the floor faceis Hand H>H.

10 18 100 16 18 18 10 20 4 FIG. The vehicle body of the vehicleis provided with a front windshield. Therefore, the driverseated on the driver's seatcan visually recognize the scene ahead of the front windshieldthrough the front windshield. The vehicleis provided with four wheel speed sensors(see) for detecting the respective wheel speeds of the four wheels.

10 10 25 22 22 10 22 30 10 4 FIG. The vehicleincludes a winker lever (not shown). The winker lever is movable (rotated) from a neutral position (initial position) to a first position below the neutral position and a second position above the neutral position. Further, the vehicleincludes a lever position detection sensor(see) capable of detecting the position of the turn-in car lever. When the lever position detection sensordetects that the winker lever is in the first position, the right direction indicator (luminaire) provided at the front end portion of the vehicleis turned on. When the lever position detection sensordetects that the winker lever is in the second position, a left direction indicator (luminaire) providedat a front end portion of the vehicleis turned on.

10 10 24 4 FIG. The vehicleincludes a shift lever (not shown). The shift lever is movable to the shift positions of the P range (parking range), the R range (reverse range), the N range (neutral range), and the D range (drive range). The vehiclefurther includes a shift position sensorthat repeatedly acquires the shift position of the shift lever at a predetermined cycle (scc).

1 6 FIGS.and 2 FIG. 28 10 28 30 32 34 36 44 46 48 50 32 34 44 46 30 30 31 30 34 32 36 34 30 30 As shown in, a projection deviceis provided at a front end portion of the vehicle. As illustrated in, the projection deviceincludes a case, a light source, an optical system, a shade, a second electric motor, a heat sink, a rotation center shaft (angle adjustment device), and a third electric motor (angle adjustment device). The light source, the optical system, the second electric motor, and the heat sinklocated inside the caseare fixed to the case. Further, an openingis formed in a front end portion of the case. The optical systemis positioned immediately before the light source. Further, a shadepositioned immediately before the optical systemand movable in the left-right direction with respect to the caseis provided inside the case.

3 FIG. 36 36 38 40 42 38 36 38 38 38 38 38 38 40 36 40 40 40 38 40 42 36 42 42 42 42 42 42 As shown in, the shadeis a flat plate made of metal having a rectangular front shape. In the shade, a first forming hole, a second forming hole, and a third forming holeare formed as through holes. The first forming holeformed in the right part of the shadeincludes a first componentA, a second componentB, and a third componentC arranged vertically and separated from each other. The first componentA is arrow-shaped. The second componentB and the third componentC are substantially rectangular. The second forming holeformed in the central portion of the shadehas a first componentA, a second componentB, and a third componentC that are vertically aligned and separated from each other. The first forming holeand the second forming holeare symmetrical to each other. The third forming holeformed in the left part of the shadehas a first componentA, a second componentB, and a third componentC arranged vertically and separated from each other. The first componentA, the second componentB, and the third componentC are V-shaped in the same configuration.

36 44 36 38 34 36 40 34 36 42 34 The shadeis movable to a first drawing position, a second drawing position on the right side of the initial position, and a third drawing position on the right side of the second drawing position by the driving force of the second electric motor. When the shadeis in the first drawing position, the first forming holeis positioned immediately before the optical system. When the shadeis in the second drawing position, the second forming holeis positioned immediately before the optical system. When the shadeis in the third drawing position, the third forming holeis positioned immediately before the optical system.

46 32 The heat sinkhas a function of cooling the light source.

30 48 30 30 28 48 50 10 30 1 2 30 1 30 30 31 32 34 36 30 1 30 2 30 30 2 1 2 FIG. 2 FIG. The caseis rotatably supported at a front portion of the vehicle body by a rotation center shaftprovided at a rear portion of the caseand extending in the left-right direction. Further, the case(the projection device) is rotatable about the rotation center shaftby the driving force of the third electric motorprovided in the front portion of the vehicle. Therefore, the caseis rotatable between a first rotational position RPindicated by a solid line inand a second rotational position RPindicated by an imaginary line in. When the caseis in the first rotational position RP, the axial lineX of the casepassing through the opening, the light source, the optical system, and the shadeis positioned lower than the horizontal line HL in the side view, and the angle formed by the horizontal line HL and the axial lineX is θ. When the caseis in the second rotational position RP, the axial lineX is positioned below the horizontal line HL in a side view, and an angle formed by the horizontal line HL and the axial lineX is θlarger than θ.

10 51 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 51 4 FIG. Vehiclecomprises ECU (Electronic Control Unit)shown in. ECUincludes a CPU (Central Processing Unit (processor)) (control unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage, a communication I/F (Interface), and an input/output I/F. CPU, ROM, RAM, the storage, the communication I/F, and the input/output I/Fare communicably connected to each other via a bus. ECUcan acquire date and time information from a timer (not shown).

52 52 53 55 54 52 53 55 CPUis a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls cach unit. That is, CPUreads the program from ROMor the storage, and executes the program using RAMas a working area. CPUperforms control of respective configurations and various arithmetic processes (information processing) in accordance with programs recorded in ROMor the storage.

53 54 55 56 10 56 56 51 10 57 15 20 22 24 32 44 50 57 ROMstores various programs and various data. The RAMtemporarily stores a program or data as a work area. The storageis constituted by a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various programs and various data. The communication I/Fis an interface capable of communicating with a device located outside the vehicles. As the communication I/F, a communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) is used. Further, the communication I/Fcan communicate with an ECU different from ECUprovided in the vehiclesvia an external bus. The input/output I/Fis an interface for communicating with various devices. For example, a first electric motor, a wheel speed sensor, a lever position detection sensor, a shift position sensor, a light source, a second electric motor, and a third electric motorare connected to the input/output I/F.

5 FIG. 51 521 522 523 524 521 522 523 524 52 53 As illustrated in, ECUincludes a lifter control unit, a shift-position recognizing unit, a vehicle speed calculating unit, and a projection device control unitas a functional configuration. The lifter control unit, the shift-position recognizing unit, the vehicle speed calculating unit, and the projection device control unitare realized by CPUreading out and executing a program stored in ROM.

521 14 10 15 16 12 15 55 521 55 53 1 2 1 FIG. 8 FIG. The lifter control unitcontrols the lifter devicewhile supplying electric power of a battery (not shown) mounted on the vehicleto the first electric motorwhen a lifter operation switch (not shown) provided on the instrument panel is operated. The height of the driver's seatfrom the floor face, which is calculated based on the amount of operation of the first electric motor, is recorded in the storage. The lifter control unitacquires information on the height at the current time from the storage, and determines whether the height is equal to or greater than the first threshold value. The first threshold value are recorded in ROM. The height Hinis less than the first threshold value, and the height Hinis greater than or equal to the first threshold value.

522 24 The shift position recognizing unitrecognizes the shift position based on the signal received from the shift position sensor.

523 10 20 The vehicle speed calculating unitcalculates the vehicle speed of the vehiclebased on the detection values of the respective wheel speed sensors.

524 28 28 524 22 10 The projection device control unitsupplies the power of the battery to the projection deviceto control the projection devicewhen a predetermined drawing condition is satisfied. For example, when the projection device control unitdetermines that the winker lever is at the first position or the second position based on the signal received from the lever position detection sensor, the first drawing condition, which is one of the drawing conditions, is satisfied. Further, for example, when it is determined that the shift lever is in the D range and it is determined that the vehicle speed of the vehiclehas changed from zero to a vehicle speed equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the second drawing condition, which is one of the drawing conditions, is satisfied.

524 32 524 44 36 32 34 38 36 38 31 10 524 44 36 32 34 40 36 40 31 10 524 44 36 32 34 42 36 42 31 10 When the drawing condition is satisfied, the projection device control unitturns on the light sourcefor a predetermined period of time. Further, when the first drawing condition is satisfied when the winker lever is in the first position, the projection device control unitcontrols the second electric motorto position the shadeat the first drawing position. Therefore, the light beam emitted forward from the light sourceand transmitted through the optical systemis supplied to the portion where the first forming holeof the shadeis formed. Therefore, the light flux passing through the first forming holeand the openingis emitted toward the front of the vehicle. When the first drawing condition is satisfied when the winker lever is in the second position, the projection device control unitcontrols the second electric motorto position the shadeat the second drawing position. Therefore, the light beam emitted forward from the light sourceand transmitted through the optical systemis supplied to the portion where the second forming holeof the shadeis formed. Therefore, the light flux passing through the second forming holeand the openingis emitted toward the front of the vehicle. When the second drawing condition is satisfied, the projection device control unitcontrols the second electric motorto position the shadeat the third drawing position. Therefore, the light beam emitted forward from the light sourceand transmitted through the optical systemis supplied to the portion where the third forming holeof the shadeis formed. Therefore, the light flux passing through the third forming holeand the openingis emitted toward the front of the vehicle.

521 16 12 524 50 30 1 71 70 10 36 62 71 62 62 38 62 38 62 38 62 71 10 62 62 10 1 71 10 70 62 71 10 1 FIG. 1 6 FIGS.and Further, when the lifter control unitdetermines that the height of the driver's seatfrom the floor faceis less than the first threshold value, the projection device control unitcontrols the third electric motorto set the rotational position of the caseto the first rotational position RP. Therefore, as shown in, an optical image is projected in the first mode onto the road surfaceof the roadon which the vehicleis traveling. For example, when the shadeis at the first drawing position, the first drawing image (optical image)is projected on the road surfaceas illustrated in. The first drawing imagesinclude a first componentA generated by the first componentA, a second componentB generated by the second componentB, and a third componentC generated by the third componentC. The first drawing imageis projected onto a portion of the road surfacelocated in front of the front end of the vehicle. Further, the front-rear distance in a plan view between the front end of the first drawing images(first componentA) and the front end of the vehiclesis the first distance L. Hereinafter, the distance in the front-rear direction in a plan view between the front end of the optical image on the road surfaceand the front end of the vehicleis referred to as a specific distance. A person (not shown) who is located in the vicinity of the roadand who views the first drawing imageprojected on the road surfacecan recognize that the vehicleis scheduled to turn right.

36 524 16 12 40 71 40 40 40 71 10 10 1 70 71 10 Further, when the shadeis at the second drawing position, the projection device control unitsometimes determines that the height of the driver's seatfrom the floor faceis less than the first threshold value. At this time, a second drawing image (not shown) generated by the second forming holeis projected onto the road surfacein the first mode. The second drawing images include a first component generated by the first componentA, a second component generated by the second componentB, and a third component generated by the third componentC. The second drawing image is projected onto a portion of the road surfacelocated in front of the front end of the vehicle. Furthermore, the second drawing images and the specified distance of the vehiclesare the first distance L. A person who is located in the vicinity of the roadand views the second drawing image projected on the road surfacecan recognize that the vehicleis scheduled to turn left.

36 524 16 12 64 42 71 64 64 42 64 42 64 42 64 71 10 64 10 1 70 64 71 10 7 FIG. Further, when the shadeis at the third drawing position, the projection device control unitsometimes determines that the height of the driver's seatfrom the floor faceis less than the first threshold value. At this time, as shown in, the third drawing image (optical image)generated by the third forming holeis projected onto the road surfacein the first mode. The third drawing imagesinclude a first componentA generated by the first componentA, a second componentB generated by the second componentB, and a third componentC generated by the third componentC. The third drawing imageis projected onto a portion of the road surfacelocated in front of the front end of the vehicle. Furthermore, the third drawing imagesand the specified distance of the vehiclesare the first distance L. A person who is located in the vicinity of the roadand views the third drawing imageprojected on the road surfacecan recognize that the stopped vehiclehas started traveling forward.

521 16 12 524 50 30 2 71 70 10 36 62 71 62 10 2 1 30 2 62 62 30 1 71 71 8 FIG. 8 9 FIGS.and Further, when the lifter control unitdetermines that the height of the driver's seatfrom the floor faceis equal to or greater than the first threshold value, the projection device control unitcontrols the third electric motorto set the rotational position of the caseto the second rotational position RP. Therefore, as shown in, an optical image is projected in the second mode onto the road surfaceof the roadon which the vehicleis traveling. For example, when the shadeis at the first drawing position, the first drawing imageis projected on the road surfaceas illustrated in. However, the specified distance between the first drawing imagesand the vehiclesis a second distance Lshorter than the first distance L. That is, since the rotational position of the caseis set to the second rotational position RP, the total length (front-rear dimension) of the first drawing imagein this case is shorter than the total length (front-rear dimension) of the first drawing imagewhen the rotational position of the caseis set to the first rotational position RP. That is, the shape of the optical image projected onto the road surfacein the second mode is a shape obtained by reducing the entire optical image projected onto the road surfacein the first mode in the traveling direction.

30 2 36 71 10 2 30 1 When the rotational position of the caseis set to the second rotational position RPwhen the shadeis at the second drawing position, the second drawing images are projected onto the road surfacein the second mode. The second drawing images and the specified distance of the vehiclesare the second distance L. That is, the total length of the second drawing image in this case is shorter than the total length of the second drawing image when the rotational position of the caseis set to the first rotational position RP.

30 2 36 64 71 64 10 2 64 64 30 1 10 FIG. When the rotational position of the caseis set to the second rotational position RPwhen the shadeis at the third drawing position, the third drawing imagesare projected onto the road surfacein the second mode as shown in. The specified distance between the third drawing imagesand the vehiclesis the second distance L. That is, the total length of the third drawing imagein this case is shorter than the total length of the third drawing imagewhen the rotational position of the caseis set to the first rotational position RP.

28 51 66 Among the configurations described above, the projection deviceand ECUare components of the drawing device.

52 51 52 11 FIG. Next, a process executed by CPUof ECUwill be described. CPUrepeatedly executes the process of the flow chart shown inevery time a predetermined period elapses.

10 52 In S(hereinafter, the characters of the steps are omitted), CPUdetermines whether or not the drawing condition is satisfied.

10 52 11 16 When Sdetermines Yes, CPUproceeds to Sand recognizes the height of the driver's seat.

52 11 12 16 In a CPUwhere Sprocess is completed, the process proceeds to S, and it is determined whether or not the height of the driver's seatis equal to or greater than the first threshold value.

12 52 13 30 28 2 When it is determined in Sthat it is Yes, CPUproceeds to Sand sets the rotational position of the caseof the projection deviceto the second rotational position RP.

12 52 14 30 1 When No is determined in S, CPUproceeds to Sand sets the rotational position of the caseto the first rotational position RP.

52 13 14 15 32 36 71 70 In a CPUwhere Sor Sprocess is completed, the process proceeds to S, and a drawing process is executed in which the light sourceis turned on and the shadeis positioned at a predetermined position. As a result, one drawing image (optical image) is projected onto the road surfaceof the road.

10 15 52 11 FIG. When it is determined that Sis No or when Sprocess is completed, CPUtemporarily ends the process of the flow chart of.

66 28 62 64 10 71 10 16 12 66 52 28 71 2 10 1 As described above, the drawing deviceof the present embodiment includes the projection devicethat projects the optical image (the first drawing image, the second drawing image, and the third drawing image) located on the traveling direction side of the vehicleon the road surfaceon which the vehicleis traveling. The height of the driver's seatrelative to the floor facemay be greater than or equal to a first threshold value. At this time, the drawing devicefurther includes a CPUfor controlling the projection deviceso that the optical image on the road surfaceand the specific distance (the second distance L) of the vehiclesare shorter than the specific distance (the first distance L) when the height is less than the first threshold value.

1 FIG. 1 FIG. 1 16 100 10 18 100 1 62 64 71 100 100 71 100 71 As shown in, when the height Hof the driver's seatis less than the first threshold value, the drivercan visually recognize the front area of the vehiclethrough the front windshield. The field of view of the driverat this time is the area between the two straight line VLdepicted in. Therefore, when the optical image (the first drawing image, the second drawing image, and the third drawing image) is projected onto the road surfacein the first mode, it is difficult for the optical image to enter the field of view of the driver. Therefore, in this case, the driveris less likely to feel the optical image on the road surfacetroublesome. That is, in this case, there is a small possibility that the drivability of the driveris deteriorated by the optical image on the road surface.

8 FIG. 8 FIG. 2 16 100 10 18 100 2 71 100 71 16 100 100 71 As illustrated in, even when the height Hof the driver's seatis equal to or greater than the first threshold value, the drivercan visually recognize the front area of the vehiclethrough the front windshield. The field of view of the driverat this time is the area between the two straight line VLdepicted in. Therefore, when the optical image is projected on the road surfacein the first mode, there is a high possibility that the optical image enters the field of view of the driver. However, since the optical image is projected onto the road surfacein the second mode when the height of the driver's seatis equal to or greater than the first threshold value, it is difficult for the optical image to enter the field of view of the driver. Therefore, in this case as well, the driveris less likely to feel the optical image on the road surfacetroublesome.

66 28 16 16 71 62 71 Further, the drawing devicecontrols the projection deviceso that the shape of the optical image when the height of the driver's seatbecomes equal to or greater than the first threshold value is a shape obtained by reducing the entire optical image in the traveling direction when the height becomes less than the first threshold value. Therefore, the shape of the optical image when the height of the driver's seatbecomes equal to or greater than the first threshold value and the shape of the optical image when the height is less than the first threshold value can be made the same except for the dimensions. Therefore, even when the optical image on the road surfacehas an asymmetrical shape like the first drawing image, the optical image can be formed on the road surfacein the second mode.

66 71 28 Further, the drawing devicecan freely change the size of the entire optical image on the road surfaceby adjusting the angle of the projection device.

Although the vehicular road surface drawing device according to the embodiment has been described above, these can be appropriately changed in design without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

12 FIG. 12 FIG. 42 42 36 16 30 1 32 36 64 64 64 71 64 64 64 64 10 2 66 48 50 For example, the disclosure may be implemented in the manner of the first variant shown in. For example, a third forming hole (not shown) having only the second componentB and the third componentC is formed in the shade, and the height of the driver's seatmay be equal to or greater than the first threshold value. At this time, while the rotational position of the caseis maintained at the first rotational position RP, the light emitted from the light sourcemay be irradiated onto the portion of the shadewhere the third forming hole is formed. In this case, as shown in, the third drawing imageX having only the second componentB and the third componentC is projected onto the road surface. The third drawing imageX is the same as the optical image obtained by removing the first componentA from the third drawing imageprojected in the first mode. Again, the specified distance between the third drawing imagesX and the vehiclesis the second distance L. Note that the drawing deviceof the first modification may not include the rotation center shaftand the third electric motor.

71 10 2 48 50 50 32 36 36 44 66 When the optical image on the road surfaceand the specified distance of the vehicleare changed to the second distance Lby using the rotation center shaftand the third electric motoras in the embodiment, the rotation control of the third electric motorneeds to be performed with high accuracy. On the other hand, when the light of the light sourceis irradiated to the third forming hole formed in the shadeas in the first modification, the forming accuracy of the third forming hole in the shadeand the control accuracy of the second electric motorneed not be so high. Therefore, the drawing deviceof the first modification can be manufactured at low cost.

13 FIG. 13 FIG. 16 12 71 30 2 71 10 3 2 62 71 16 12 100 36 71 10 3 For example, the present disclosure may be implemented in the manner of the second variation shown in. In the second modification, when the height of the driver's seatfrom the floor faceis equal to or greater than the second threshold value which is a predetermined value larger than the first threshold value, the optical image is projected onto the road surfacein the third mode by making the rotational position of the casewith respect to the horizontal line HL larger than the second rotational position RP. Here, the optical image projected on the road surfaceand the specified distance of the vehiclesbecome a third distance Lshorter than the second distance L. For example, as shown in, the first drawing imageis rendered on the road surfacein the third mode. Therefore, even when the height of the driver's seatfrom the floor facebecomes equal to or higher than the second threshold value, it is difficult for the optical image to enter the field of view of the driver. Note that, for example, by forming a third forming hole (not shown) having only the third component portion in the shade, the optical image may be projected onto the road surfaceso that a specified distance between the optical image and the vehicleis the third distance L.

36 31 30 16 12 10 12 16 71 10 16 10 10 A variable magnification optical system having a plurality of movable lenses may be disposed between the shadeand the openingof the case, and the variable magnification ratio of the variable magnification optical system may be changed in accordance with the height of the driver's seatfrom the floor face. Again, the optical image and the specific distance of the vehiclewhen the height from the floor faceof the driver's seatis less than the first threshold value can be shorter than the optical image on the road surfaceand the specific distance of the vehiclewhen the height is greater than or equal to the first threshold value. Further, the optical image in the case where the height of the driver's seatis equal to or greater than the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value and the specific distance of the vehiclecan be made shorter than the optical image in the case where the height is equal to or greater than the second threshold value and the specific distance of the vehicle.

16 12 28 71 10 When the height of the driver's seatfrom the floor facebecomes equal to or greater than the first threshold value, the projection devicemay be controlled so that the optical image on the road surfaceand the specific distance of the vehiclegradually become shorter as the height increases.

28 36 38 40 42 36 28 38 40 42 71 The projection devicemay comprise a number of light sources corresponding to the number of forming holes provided in the shade. For example, in a case where the first forming hole, the second forming hole, and the third forming holeare formed in the shade, the projection devicemay include three light sources positioned immediately after each of the first forming hole, the second forming hole, and the third forming hole. In this case, only one light source is turned on, and an optical image generated by a hole formed immediately before the turned-on light source is projected onto the road surface.

28 38 36 28 38 38 38 71 10 38 64 71 12 FIG. The projection devicemay include a number of light sources corresponding to each component of each forming hole. For example, when only the first forming holeis formed in the shade, the projection devicemay include three light sources positioned immediately before each of the first componentA, the second componentB, and the third componentC. In this case, the optical image generated by the component corresponding to the lighted light source is projected onto the road surface. For example, when only two light sources located immediately after the first componentA are turned on, the third drawing imageX is projected onto the road surfaceas shown in.

62 The shape (type) of the optical image projected on the road surface may be different from those of the above-described embodiment and each modification example. For example, the optical image may have only a single site (e.g., the first componentA).